Screening for neurotoxic amino acid associated with neurological disorders

Abstract

Methods for screening for neurological disorders are disclosed. Specifically, methods are disclosed for screening for neurological disorders in a subject by analyzing a tissue sample obtained from the subject for the presence of elevated levels of neurotoxic amino acids or neurotoxic derivatives thereof associated with neurological disorders. In particular, methods are disclosed for diagnosing a neurological disorder in a subject, or predicting the likelihood of developing a neurological disorder in a subject, by determining the levels of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in a tissue sample obtained from the subject. Methods for screening for environmental factors associated with neurological disorders are disclosed. Methods for inhibiting, treating or preventing neurological disorders are disclosed.

1. A method of screening a subject having or at risk of having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) comprising, obtaining a tissue sample from the subject and analyzing the sample to determine the amount of protein-bound β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), wherein the presence of BMAA in the sample indicates the subject has ALS. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein-bound BMAA comprises BMAA incorporated into at least one protein. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein-bound BMAA comprises BMAA associated with at least one protein. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the presence of free BMAA. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has symptoms of ALS. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is asymptomatic for ALS. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has been identified as being at risk for developing ALS. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue sample is neurological tissue. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neurological tissue is associated with the central nervous system (CNS). 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tissue is brain tissue. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tissue is cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF). 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neurological tissue is associated with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is non-neurological tissue. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tissue is keratinous tissue. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tissue is hair. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tissue is skin. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tissue is nail. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the nail is a fingernail. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the nail is a toenail. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tissue is non-keratinous tissue.